What makes up a sentence

There will always be lessons that I am not thrilled about. I try to finagle a way to not teach a certain topic, but eventually I run out of reasons so I might as well dive right in. One such lesson was on clauses...ugh! To be honest I struggle sometimes with the reasons why students need to be taught certain lessons. Why in the world do they need to know the difference between main and subordinate clause? Originally, I thought teaching students to identify clauses would be pointless and a giant waste of time.  Then I slowly changed my mind as I thought of ways to teach this topic and how it would benefit them. 

We first began by just defining what made up a sentence. They filled out notes in their notebooks. Then we used the Smart board to sort all the different types of sentences. 

Next, they were given an article and they had to identify main and subordinate clauses as they read. They had to circle conjunctions that would help them identify the clause. 

For the last step in this lesson,  I copied the sentences they identified in the article as to having a main or subordinate clause and passed out highlighters. We read the sentences out loud and they highlighted what portion of the sentence was main or subordinate. This lesson took at least three days to complete, but once it was over I was glad I decided to teach clauses.

This lesson eventually lead the 8th graders to a show and not tell lesson.

The 4 sentences

Imperative

Interrogative

Declarative 

Exclamatory

Every year this lesson comes up and I am not one to use the same lesson over and over again. So this year I incorporated our novel that the 6th graders are reading. After they understood the difference between the four types of sentences they read a chapter and identified as many of those sentences while reading. While reading they referenced their fold-able on the four types of sentences in their notebook.

 Then they were asked to write their own sentences by using a table in their interactive notebook. They also used the smart board to sort the four types of sentences.

I always enjoy teaching the four types of sentences because its so simple and easy for students to grasp.

Interactive notebook set up

I made a few minor changes to our interactive notebook this year. It took us about a day to set it up. I wish there was a button that would magically put everything into their notebook without wasting time cutting and gluing. The page by page directions were on the white board and each page was on the back counter. The first couple of pages contained: classroom expectations, top five hand, interactive notebook rubric, rules for the notebook, quarterly goals and vocabulary data for quarter one. 

I love using interactive notebooks for so many reasons. They are a great tool for documenting student work as well as keeping students engaged in the lesson and since our Language Arts textbooks are older than the sun itself its our only real option.

Interactive Organization

Let's face it students miss school therefore causing them to play catch up when they return. I am the type of teacher that will not hunt you down and give you the work you missed. Instead I have created a mini catch up corner to those that were absent. This area consists of two binders, metal file folder holder and a supply basket.

 

The binders hold a copy of every page of my interactive notebook. I did this mainly so my own notebook would not fall apart. Both binders contain the same information...just in case more than one student needs them.

I bought this metal file at target. Each tab is labeled with the page number the notes belong on or the title of those notes. Whenever a student did not get a copy of notes I just direct them to the metal bin and tell them what page or title the notes is called.   

 On the outside of the file folder contains instructions of how to complete the notes or a picture of what the notes should look like when they are finished.

I believe in making students responsible in the classroom.  After their bellwork a student will pass out everyones notebook while another student passes out supply boxes. By giving them the tools to keep on track with their notebooks the school year has run smoother and they take pride in the work they have accomplished.

The best notebooks around

When it comes to picking the right notebook for creating interactive notebooks I prefer the bigger the better. This way when I have notes directly off the printer the page fits exactly on the page. If I just want to have my students put an entire page in their notebook then we just staple it, but if there are multiple pieces then they glue it in.

If I had it my way I would have every student use:

 A spiral Five Star notebook

While we are on the topic of notebooks. I keep a master copy for each grade level on the side of my tech station. Each grade level has a different design to tell them apart.

Having a master copy of each grade levels interactive notebook allows me the opportunity to test out lessons as well as placement of notes. While at the same time I can demonstrate what each page looks to the students.

Interactive supplies

I try to minimize any unnecessary movement in the classroom. Using interactive notebooks requires that students have various supplies. I used to have students create an assemply line when they needed to gather supplies. This year I became a little bit wiser when it comes to student's supplies.

 I have a plastic crate on the counter filled with individual student supply box. My biggest class is 14, but without fail someone is always out...so 13 boxes works perfectly! I typically have students grab a supply box during vocab bellwork and then at the end of class assign two students to pick them up and put them back in the crate.

Inside each box is: crayons, colored pencils, scissors, a colored pen, eraser, glue stick and pencil sharpener. I find that having these supplies at each student's desk reduce unnecessary movement during lessons.

Interactive notebook organization

Part of having interactive notebooks is having a home for them.

For me the best way to keep them organized is through these three drawer containers I purchased at Wal-Mart.

(I saw that target marked down their turquoise colored ones this week)

Each class period is divided into their own drawer.

My school is on block schedule. Even days is housed on the left and then odd days are in the container on the right.

My classes are small since I am ESE. My biggest class is 14 and my smallest is 11. The containers are sturdy enough to hold the wieght of the notebooks. I could probably fit about five more in each bin.

The drawers can pull out completly which comes in handy! During bellwork I assign the first student who is complete to pass out the notebooks to each student.

Bonus

These bad boys have wheels. When parent teacher conference night comes around I wheel them into the hallway and as parents come to me I can pull out their student's notebook to give them an idea of what their child is doing in the classroom.

Why interactive notebooks

About half way through last year I decided to jump full force into interactive notebooks with little knowledge on what I was getting myself into. I am the type of person who likes routines and tends to lean on the overly organized side of life. So to have this sudden change is not me at all, but I have reasons to back up why I switched to interactive notebooks. 

Background

Previously, I had students keep their notes in their binder under my tab...L.A. This system worked well until around October and then came the excuses...which I hate!

Miss I lost my notes

I can't find that piece of paper

Do you have an extra vocab list

I left that at home

I think I threw that away

I thought we didn't need that anymore

When did we do that

Can I have another one of that

I don't think I was here that day

I was supposed to keep that

I blew my nose with my notes

(sadly this has happened)

Fast Forward

I guess you can say I snapped because I was approaching a poetry unit where students were going to have pieces of paper coming out of their ears: notes, poetry dissection and writing their own poems. Too many papers to be lost! Thankfully, I had scooped up a bunch of spiral notebooks when they were a penny to hand out to students who could not bring their own.

Today...

I am loving, loving, loving interactive notebooks. They are my saving grace to monitoring each classes progress as well as individual students. I no longer hear the endless excuses from students losing their notes. Through the use of interactive notebooks students are held accountable during each lesson making sure each task is complete. Students can also look back on what they have done throughout the year to see how far they have come!

 My OCD has found its happy place in the form of a spiral notebook.

Stick around to find out other helpful hints on interactive notebook goodness.